Zherdev for a Sunday afternoon

I think if all he did was turning puck over, floating, and cherry-picking, as many on this board represent this, it would very well show in 19 games. Since it doesn't, and even quite opposite, I assume it is not that bad.

At least not as bad to keep the guy on the bench who is tied tor 13th in the league ESG despite all the crap he is getting from the coach.

What I find entertaining is that you're focusing on 19 games when Zherdev has 384 games in the league... and exasperated some other coaches as well. Lavi is trying to get him to play a certain way -- a way that Zherdev needs to learn in order to be the player he can be independent of any future with the Flyers.

19 games and limited ice time is squat... the cream rises, and it'll bear out over time.

What I find entertaining is that you're focusing on 19 games when Zherdev has 384 games in the league... and exasperated some other coaches as well. Lavi is trying to get him to play a certain way -- a way that Zherdev needs to learn in order to be the player he can be independent of any future with the Flyers.

19 games and limited ice time is squat... the cream rises, and it'll bear out over time.

We are not losing games because of Zherdev. We lose games because we take too many lazy penalties and our D looked like a bunch of clowns for te last few games. So we do not need to trade him right now.

But yes, Zherdev is Zherdev. Nothing will change him, Homer knew what he was getting.

I agree that Zherdev is trying very hard, its weird Lavi is punishing him so much

Punishing him, or trying to make him a better player that will be of use to us come playoff time?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

What I find entertaining is that you're focusing on 19 games when Zherdev has 384 games in the league... and exasperated some other coaches as well. Lavi is trying to get him to play a certain way -- a way that Zherdev needs to learn in order to be the player he can be independent of any future with the Flyers.

19 games and limited ice time is squat... the cream rises, and it'll bear out over time.

I think where he gets in trouble is that he makes some aggressive choices in dangerous spots that can be avoided...

Of course, the same can be said of a few of our forwards.

His choices with the puck are strange at times, his turnbacks make no sense.

i actually think Zherdev made his game worse by going to the KHL. befiore he left he was playing Tom Renney Hockey and led that team in scoring. Then he went to the KHL and developed bad habits from a no defense league

I wouldn't say I want to trade Zherdev, but if he was traded I wouldn't really care. I don't expect him back next season so if they can get something for him, why not? However I don't think his value would be very high. I doubt there would be much return so trading him just to trade him is silly.

I really don't care for him. He's still trying to do fancy moves that rarely work at this level. In the KHL maybe they were effective since there's more room on the ice but with NHL games being so close-checking, they're not that effective.

I also wonder if he's pissing Lavi off by taking longer shifts. He's done that a few times.

Zherdev has almost 400 NHL games, its too late to change him. He is playing hard and trying his best on D(which still sucks).

If Lavi doesnt trust Zherdev now, he certainly wont trust him in the playoffs. If this continues I'd say we will trade him for a 3rd line winger, someone like Chuck Kobasew

I disagree with the bold. Effort and defensive responsibility can be learned. Zherdev has talent that cannot be taught, but he lacks things that can be learned.

We can debate all day long about whether or not Zherdev will ever "get it" under Lavi (or any other coach), and your guess is as good as mine (I doubt he gets it, personally, and I stated as much when we signed him).

If he doesn't "get it" before the trade deadline, then maybe we unload him, because he won't be of use to us in the postseason, if that's the case. But he isn't being "punished", he's being taught the right way to play the game. Time will tell if works or not.

I think Z gets paid 2 mil a year, scores almost 30 goals, and plays 3rd or 4th line.. which is fantastic.

I think people don't realize (or don't want to realize) how much he is actually doing offensively in that ridiculosly limited amount of TOI he is given, and without steady linemates. Considering his TOI he is currently more productive than Stamkos, Ovechkin or Crosby (ESG).

If Laviolette is trying to teach him -- fine, but Zherdev may just give up at some point.

I really don't care for him. He's still trying to do fancy moves that rarely work at this level. In the KHL maybe they were effective since there's more room on the ice but with NHL games being so close-checking, they're not that effective.

I also wonder if he's pissing Lavi off by taking longer shifts. He's done that a few times.

When a guy knows he's only getting three shifts a game that's gonna happen, lol.

It's sort of a bizarre, frustrating situation. Hopefully Zherdev continues to produce well in his limited minutes and maybe adjust his game to Laviolette's liking. Having a guy like Zherdev certainly insulates you from some of the loss of production if a good forward goes down. I'm guessing sooner or later an injury is going to sort out the issue of him getting some more minutes.

I think people don't realize (or don't want to realize) how much he is actually doing offensively in that ridiculosly limited amount of TOI he is given, and without steady linemates. Considering his TOI he is currently more productive than Stamkos, Ovechkin or Crosby (ESG).

If Laviolette is trying to teach him -- fine, but Zherdev may just give up at some point.

Is he consistently out against the other teams best players? I'm not refuting that your stats are factually correct, but they're misleading.

I hope Zherdev doesn't quit on his coach or team mates. It's a lot tougher to stick it out in a situation like his if you aren't close to your team mates though. I wonder if he is tight with anyone on the team or has kind of kept to himself (which is more his M.O.).